I'm glad to hear most of you are on the curves smart and liking it. I've been on the CS for a year and have lost 30 lbs and 23 inches and I am so much stronger. I Love it and the consistent members at our club have had awesome results. I know I would have better results if I changed my eating habits or cut out my wine.

I have the smart card and it's alright. Yes, I love the fact that I can see how many calories I burned, but like someone else said, you can always buy that tool somewhere else. We all know when we can work out harder. I have realized that by the time I get off the machine and start on the recovery pad, the music says switch, so I wonder about that part of it. I don't believe the smart card is as accurate as it should be. There are a few kinks that need to be worked out. Plus, I don't remember how I performed the exercise when the trainer took me around to program me for the smart card. So, I feel it's a little frusterating for me because it will say I'm in the yellow, but I know I'm working my tail off. I think it has something to do with when I was first programmed for it. You don't need it and can still get a great effective workout.

I've changed my mind! One of my Curves 'trainers' convinced me that I really should give Smart a try - I've been very resistant. Last night was my sign-up appointment and boy was I amazed. I thought I was smart enough to know when I'm working hard - apparently I am not. I've NEVER had such a good workout at Curves. I'm going to keep at this awhile.

I use the Curves Smart. Years ago when I belonged we didn't have them and I saw results. However, I like the incentive or push it gives me when I get the yellow lights. Lets me know when I'm not putting in enough effort.

Well that is part of the problem..If you are doing "high intense" cardio on the recovery pads then you are not properly strength training on the machines. And how is it that you get in extra reps without the tag, my guess is you may not being going the full rom that the smat system had you programmed at. Going through the motions on the machines is not overloading the muscles.

I'm pretty new at Curves so they haven't offered me the Smart chip yet. However, the way I see others fumbling with the keys and not moving to the time I'm not sure I want to do it. I may be an in-the-box girl but I want to recover between each machine just as the circuit was designed. I don't like moving around and skipping machines. I love my Curves workouts!

I took the six week challenge with Curves and did not like their eating plan so I made substitutions more along the South Beach plan. Tracking it in Spark People would have been nice but I did not know about Spark People then. I did learn quite a bit.

As far as Curves Smart Vs Regular - I like Curves Smart because it makes me work harder.

Gretchen Muller Oroville, California

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results."

I use regular Curves. We don't have Smart, but I don't think I would pay extra for it. I would buy a hrm with a calorie counter first. Either way it is a estimate of calories burned. I just push for 15 reps on each machine and move alot on the pads. After being there for 5 years I have to work really hard to get my heartrate up. As for the classes I found the diet to restricting. I like the SP plan alot better and have seen great results using it with Curves.

I have tried their weight management program but unless you follow the menus that they plan for you (which can get VERY expensive) it doesn't work that well. I would spend over an hour trying to get my meals planned for the day. I completely recommend Sparkpeople over Curves Complete.

My Curves offers the Curves Smart program and I've really been enjoying that. Today was my 30th visit. I go 5x a week, 3 strength training and 2 cardio days. It's nice to be able to see when I need to work harder, or slow down a bit, to keep the solid green lights.

Yesterday I attended their weight management class, and while I am not knocking it for others who might like it, I just don't think that is for me. I understand the concept of kick-starting your metabolism when you hit a plateau, but I think tracking my nutrition using SP is easier and more realistic. Does anyone here follow the Curves weight management program?

They also gave me a voucher for a free trial at their curves complete site. I didn't register because it sounds like I already have everything here on SP that their site offers for a fee -- message boards, recipes, etc. (Sorry, I know I jumped off track a little from the topic question.)

Sorry, but I like the FEEDBACK I get from Smart Curves. So I vote for SMART CURVES. As for the RECOVERY boards...they are for recovery, and NOT working out HARD....they are for control of you heart rate between machines, to bring it down, not to keep it up.

MY NEW saying: (borrowed from Delila)

"If you want to do something, you'll find a way, if you don't, you'll find an excuse."

I actually was at a Curves that didn't have the Smart program and switched to one with the Smart program. I absolutely love it. I find I push myself even harder with the Smart program. I'm actually typically burning over 700 calories with the Smart program as well. I can tell a difference already. I was down 6 lbs. and at least one inch all over just this month.

I find I work harder with the Curves Smart but I think there are still a lot of problems to be worked out with the system. When we changed to the Curves Smart our rates went up $5.00 and if we decide we don't like it we do not go back to the old rate. Our Curves only charges $34 a month. I really like the machines for my strength and I do my stretching and some cardio on the recovery boards. I do other cardio at home and water aerobics three times a week.

Gretchen Muller Oroville, California

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results."

I am on Smart and really like it. The last challenge we had was back to basics and since then I really pay attention to correct usageand form of each machine. I can see what you mena though with others not paying attention on proper form and getting to the next machine early.

The thing that gets me is ones that don't stretch properly at the end. They either don't stretch at all or only hold each pose for 5 seconds then onto the next.

We don't have the Smart Program and that's fine with me from what I have heard. We won't be getting one either because it's too expensive. I use a 4 prong cane but don't hold anyone up at the machines.

"Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective."

It funny you should mention the fact about the curve smart program... I just started and that is what I am suppose to be doing but I just ignore the light and do the reps regardless of what the machine says. I do 5 minutes on the recovery boards before moving on to the next machine. When the staff member says something about staying with the music prompter, I just smile and say I have no rhythm and don't mind if another member goes "around" me. I am there to get the full measure of a workout. Of course the computer really hates me when it tries to calculate my results of the work out, but I know how I did and thats all that matters and that is my story and I am sticking to it LOL!

Live to Ride, Ride to make another healthy lifestyle change another day!

"I am not hung up on myself... I was practicing Yoga and got stuck."

" I am not always slow moving, but when I am, it is because I am practicing Tai Chi."

" To be like me, good or bad, is to be me, which by all laws of nature is an impossibility. So be yourself! "

I have been going to Curves for almost two years now. I got in on the Curves Smart program as soon as it was brought in, but have left it after a year. I discovered I really don't need a machine to tell me when to add more intensity, etc. I also discovered in going back to the old way, I can get in three to four extra reps in while most Smart members are fumbling putting their key in and waiting for the green light. I also notice a lot of them cut short their recovery pad time to get to the next machine early. To me that is wasted workout time. I push every minute I am on there with high intensity and waste very little time getting from machine to machine, giving me maximum workout time on both the recovery pads and the machines. I do high intensity cardio on the pads to keep my heart rate up. I have had more than one person compliment me on my energy and enthusiasm. Can you say the same about your workouts? I am also paying attention to proper form and breathing, which sad to say, a lot of members do not. Are you getting the most out of your Curves workout or just going through the motions? I don't need to pay the extra $10 to know that.

When one door closes, I simply look for another to kick down! Starting over isn't a crime, its Life! A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight! V. Borge

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